Air conditioning apparatus



1945- L. A; PHILIPP 2,382,502

AIR CONDITICSNING APPARATUS Filed June 19, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 1: Mw r yu' If. Pam/PP ATTORNEY.

Aug. 14, 1945; PHlLlPP 2,382,502

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed June '19, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Aug. 14, L AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS v Filed June 19, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet s W Z ATTORNEY.

Aug. 14, 1945.

A. PHILIP]? A IR CONIQ I T IONING APPARATUS Filled June 19, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 'oleaoaaooedeoeaae lid doaoeooluoqoqooaa IIIIIIMIIHIIIIlllllllAlllllllllllAlllllll Jlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll llll llllllllllllllll llllIlllllllHllllllllllll llll llllllrnlnnnlllllllunulllllLL 5 llll Hlllllllllll lllllllllllllllllllll r/za L 2/ L INVENTOR. I Lawymcz; l7. P/l/L/EP i BY I '2- i: I s 8 ATTORNEY; 1

Aug. l4, PHILIP]:

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed June 19, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Lamwsdcz 4. 7 /111, IPP

BY M ATTORNEY.

of the coil and thereby assume the temperature of the coil. Other molecules flow through the coil and do not come into contact with the cooling surface. The temperature of the air and water vapor mixture which leaves the coil or cooling surface is determined by the number of moleculeswhich are brought into contact with the cooling surface and the temperature of the cooling surface. The number of molecules brought into contact with the cooling surface is determined largely by the length of the path of possible contact of the molecules with the cooling surface in the depth of the coil, the velocity of the air over the coil and the degree of turbulence of the air through the coil.

The temperature of the air which contacts the coil and the moisture content of the air which contacts the coil is therefore determined by the temperature of this air and the .temperature of the coil. Moisture in the air which contacts the coil mixes with the moisture which has not contacted the coil so that the final moisture content of the air leaving the cooling unit is determined by the initial moisture content of the entering air, the temperature of the coil and the ratio of the air which has contacted the coil to the total quantity of air which has been forced over the coil.

I have found that the magnitude of the lowering of the temperature of the air across the coil has a very large effect upon the relative humidity of the air while the temperature of the coil has only a small effect. That is, more specifically, the greater the lowering of the temperature of the air circulating through the coil the greater the dehumidification; the smaller the lowering of the temperature, the less the dehumidification. Moreover, I have found a coil of extremely large frontal area and of very shallow depth to be one which best accomplishes only a small lowering of temperature of the air circulating thereover although the temperature of the refrigerant may be ex- 'tremely low. Circulating air at a relatively high velocity over such a coil insures a very small lowerlng of temperature with little, if any, dehumidiflcation.

In accordance with my invention I have prosure the maintenance of a high relative humidity as will be shown below.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, my

air conditioning unit comprises a casing or air tunnel 3 which is mounted in a vertically disposed position upon pedestal brackets 5 depending from the lower edge thereof and resting on the bottom of a flat pan shaped receptacle 1. The pedestal brackets 5 may be secured to the air tunnel 3 in any suitable manner, as by welding for example,

and they are sufliciently elongated to supp rt it in spaced relation above the drip pan 1 to define a vent aperture 9 extending peripherally around the lowermost edge, of the tunnel. The air tunnel casing 3 and the drip pan 1 are preferably of sheet metal of square or rectangular cross section.

For drawing air upwardly through the air convection passage Ill enclosed by the vertical casing 3, I provide a centrifugal fan I I mounted on the upper end of a shaft l3 extending vertically from a suitable electric motor I5 which ismounted at an intermediate position within the casing on transversely extending brackets II. The motor supporting brackets I I may be provided with abutting end portions l9 to the side walls for attachment to the casing in any suitable manner, as by welding, for mounting the motor at a suitable position such that the centrifugal fan H on the upper end of its shaft I3 is disposed above the upperedge of the air tunnel casing.

At a position below the electric motor a perforated air cooling structure 2! is mounted in transversely disposed position in the air convection passage I0. Such a cooling member 2! may comprise reversely bent coils of a refrigerant receiving conduit 23 having heat conductive flns 25 secured thereto for increasing the thermal conpling with the air in a. well known manner. The

air cooling member H is designed in accordance 40 with my invention to provide only a small lowering vided an improved forced air circulation condiably, not more than five degrees with a consequent minimum reduction or relative humidity of the air circulating thereover. Furthermore, since the lowering in the air temperature across the coil is so small, a maximum average temperature diflerence between air and refrigerant may be maintained resulting in maximum cooling capacity for the cooling unit. A lower refrigerant temperature can, if desired, be maintained resulting in large coil capacity without materially affecting the capacity of the condensing unit.

I I have also provided in my improved air conditioning system various means for adding moisture to the air to be conditioned, in order to inof temperature with a minimum of dehumidiflcation of air circulating at a very high velocity, as is hereinafter set forth. It composes a sectional structure conveniently mounted in the square or rectangular air tunnel casing.

side-walls of the air tunnel casing 3 in any suitable manner. By this arrangement any air carried moisture which is condensed upon the cooling member 2| drops down upon the screen 2i where it is supported as very fine globules in the air stream, where it is substantially revaporized and maintains thehur'nidity. v

The open upper end of the air convection tunnel 3 is covered by a sheet metal cap 21 which is supported in spaced relation above the upper edge of the casing by brackets 29 which may be secured to both in any suitable manner. The cap is spaced above the upper edge of the tunnel casing to provide a suitable air vent aperture 3| extending peripherally around the edge thereof.

In operation the electric motor I is energized from the service mains through any suitable energizing circuit which may be controlled manually or automatically by humidity or temperature responsive devices in any manner well known to those skilled in the art. The electric motor is adapted to drive the centrifugal fan II at a high rate of speed. The latter throws the air transversely from the casing 3 through the upper vent, as indicated by the arrows. As the air is thus discharged from the upper end of the air convection passage it, it is replaced by air which enters the lower end of the convection passage through the lower peripheral vent aperture as indicated by the arrows. After the air enters through the lower vent it passes upwardly through the air convection passage passing sucv dustrial rooms and the like. Numeral 40 designates a vertical passageway whose four walls consist of finned heat absorbers or refrigerant evaporators adapted to cool the air circulating therethrough. These heat absorbers are preferably extended surface coils of shallow depth single rows designated by the numbers 42, '43, 44 and 4'5 and are so designed that air circulating through them at a relatively high velocity will suii'er a lowering of less than five degrees in temperature, preferably in the neighborhood of two or three degrees. particularly where it is'desired to cool enclosures wherein meat is kept.- The magnitude of the frontal area of the coil is adjusted in accordance with the quantity of air being circulated thereover to obtain the optimum result as will be readily understood. They are supported in their rectangular position by means of angle irons t6 and ll placed at each corner oi the rectangle. A drain pan 50 is attached to the lower ends of the angle irons 186 for collecting moisture condensed from the cooling coils.

A fan operably connected to a motorist! by a shaft serves to draw in air through the cooling cells at a relatively high velocity. The motor is supported from the sides of the passageway near the top of the passageway 40 by cross-pieces Current is supplied to this motor by service mains lnot shown) which may, if desired. be under the control of either a thermestat or liurnidostat. The heat dissipating unit, preferably a condensing unit of a mechanical refrigerating system, associated with the cooling tive humidity is desired. fit preferably suspended from the ceiling of said enclosure. Air

is dream in through all four heat absorbers at a by the fan its temperature is reduced about two or three degrees with little,

for example, 4% reduction relative humidity 1112GT certain high humidity conditions, or no reduction in relative humidity under other con- "cations. treated air is then expelled through or the'passageway; strikes the ceiling and mushrooms out into the enclosure where it Shaft 15 of motor '14 operates fans I] which serve.

mixes with the air therein to maintain the temperature at 40. The, small lowering of temperature is adequate to take care of the heat leakage into such enclosures and yet the relative humidity of the enclosure is not appreciably afiected, thereby avoiding objectionable dehydration of meats and foods contained therein. Thus it will be seen that a unit oi this kind will cool a large quantity of air and diffuse it quickly and completely into the untreated portions of an enclosure to be conditioned. It is readily adaptable by varying the design of the coils in accordance with the quantity of air to be treated to condition the air within small or large enclosures. And by selecting coils of a design in accordance with that hitherto described effective cooling may be accomplished with very little reduction in relative humidity.

In Fig. .5 there is shown a forced connection unit which diflers slightly from that shown in Figs. 3 and 4. A rectangular vertical passageway 58 is provided which two finned refrigerant evaporators or heat absorberslill and 6|, preferably of the extended surface and shallow depth type, forming two opposite walls of the passageway. These heat absorbers are designed to effect only a small lowering of temperature, preferably not more than five degrees. This is accomplished, as pointed out above, by adjusting the ratio of frontal area to depth of the heat absorber and the speed of the air flowing through the heatabsorber. That is, a high ratio of frontal area to depth and a high velocity of air-.

culating air results in small lowering of temperature with practically no dehumidification. These coils are associated with suitable heat dissipating or condensing means of conventional type. The other two walls consist of filters 62 and 63 which are primarily adapted to remove odors from the air and any fine. particles of material in the air. A drain pan 64 supported from the walls of the passageway serves to collect moisture condensed from the air by the heat absorbers and 82. A fan 66 driven by a motor 61 by means of a shaft 68- serves to draw air through the perforate heat absorbers 60 and 68 at a high velocity and through the filters 62 and 63. An opening in top of the passageway 58 allows the treated air to escape into the enclosure to be conditioned.

- In operation, air is drawn rapidly through-the perforate heat absorbers 60 and 6! and through the filters S2 and 63 by the fan 66 whereby it is purified and cooled. Any moisture condensing out collects in the drain pan 64. The treated air is expelled out the top of the unit where it intermingles with the untreated air of the enclosure to be conditioned.

In Figs; 6 and 7, another modified form of my improved forced convection unit is shown. A horizontal passageway '50 is provided having two sides, and the bottom formed of perforate heat absorbers or refrigerant evaporators i i, which are preferably extended Surface and shallow depth cooling coils designed to effect a lowering of not more than five degrees in temperature of a rapidly flowing stream of air. Any suitable heat dissipating or condensing unit (not shown) is provided for supplying heat absorbing means to the coils. The top of the passageway has a cover 72 which may be of finished sheet metal if desired.

A motor 1 4 is supported in the middle of the assageway by any suitable means (not shown).

to draw air'rapidly through the heat absorbers and expel it through the ends of the passageway. A drain pan I is supported from the walls of the passageway for collecting any moisture condensed by the cooling coils.

In operation, untreated air is drawn in laterally through the sides of the passageway and vertically through the bottom of the passageway at a high velocity. It is cooled not more than five degrees by the heat absorbers and'some moisture may be condensed out. This treated air is then expelled out both ends f the horizontal passageway I0 to mix, with the untreated air of the enclosure.

In Fig. 8 there is shown another modification of my improved forced convection unit in which a device for adding moisture to the circulating air is provided. The unit comprises a vertical passageway 00 having walls consisting of finned heat absorbers or refrigerant evaporators 82 for cooling the air to be treated. These heat absorbers are preferably cooling coils having extended surface and a short path of contact of air with cooling surface so as to reduce the temperature of a rapidly moving stream of air not more than five degrees. A fan 84 is operatively connected to a motor by means of a shaft 00 for drawing in air through the heat absorbers 02 at a relatively high velocity. The motor 80 is supported near the top of the passageway from the sides thereof a by means of cross pieces 80, A pan 90 is attached to the walls of the passageway and below the heat absorbers for holding a supply of water for humidifying purposes and for collecting any moisture that may be condensed by the heat absorbers. Water is supplied to the pan from any suitable source by a conduit 92 having a valve 93 therein for regulating the flow therethrough. An overflow conduit 94 is provided for drawing off excess water. In order to lift the water in pan 90 to a point where it -may humidity the air circulating'through passageway 80, a funnel-shaped centrifugal lift 96 is provided. This centrifugal lift is operatively connected to the motor 00 by a shaft 01 whereby it is rotated at such speed that water is picked up by it at its lower end and carried-upwardly. and outwardly until it strikes a narrow cylindrical shield 90. The latter deflects the water downwardly in a sheet of water. The

. shield 98 is supported from the'sides of the passageway by a plurality of short arms 90. If deaaeasoa I I0 carries awayany overflow. Water is lifted from the pan by means of a centrifugal lift device IIO whichisrotatedbymeansof themotor I01 through the medium of a shaft H0. The water so lifted impinges upon a deflecting shield I20 and is returned to the pan as a cylindrical sheet of water. A cup-shaped container I22 having an opening I20 in the bottom for admitting wafer is provided on the floor of pan I I2 being however somewhat raised therefrom. The lower end of the centrifugal lift dips into this container. A

closure member or stopper'I24 is adapted to sit.

on the opening I20 for controlling the flow of water into the container I22. The stopper is moved up or down by mean of a small metal cylinder I20 that slides in a cylindrical chamber I21 under the influenceof a solenoid coil I20. The stopperi24 is connected to the metal core I20 by means of a rod I which extends through a small opening in the bottonr of the pan I I2. This opening is adapted to be closed whenv the coil I20is energized by means of a closure member III. Current is supplied to the solenoid coil through wires I00, I04 and I05 and through a humidostat I00.

In operation, when. there is no demand for humidification, no current flows to the solenoid.

sired, the entire unit may be raised upon legs I00 It then circuthe added featureof a humidity control. Nu-

- valve I I0 supplies water to the pan and a conduit The latter not being energized can not raise the core I26 and the closure member I24 seals the opening I23 thereby allowing no water to enter the container I22. The rotation of the centrifugal lift II8 accomplishes nothing. When there is a demand for humidification as will be indicated by the humidostat I06 closing the circuit to the solenoid, the solenoid is energized, raising the a closure member I24 from its seat allowing water to enter the container I22. The centrifugal lift I I8 then lifts water into the path of the circulating air. The operation of the unit is otherwise large frontal area and shallow depth. The ratio of frontal area to depth is large in any case but the actual ratio is determined by the quantity of the air being circulated thereover as pointed out above.- To efiect'only a,small lowering of temperature with a minimum of dehumidiflcatlon both the ratio of frontal area to depth and the velocity of the air circulating over the coil'should be kept as large as conveniently possible. A fan ,I44 operatively connected to a motor I40 by a shaft I40 serves to circulate air through the unit. The motor I00 is supported from the sides of the passageway by cross-pieces I40. A drain pan I00 is attached to the bottom of the passageway. The entire unit may be supported on legs I02 if desired. In order to add moisture to the air clrculating through the unit a rectangularly shaped trough I04 is provided into which water is run from a water supply conduit I00. The tromh is supported on the cross-pieces I40. The conduit- I00 may be controlled by a manually operated valve I00 or by a humidostatically operated solenoid valve I00 as desired. Water running into asaaeca 5 I skilled in the art that various modifications may 10 be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

An air conditioning system comprising, in combination, perforate heat absorbers consisting of a plurality of single rows of extended surface finned coils of shallow depth, arranged to produce a vertical passageway, supporting means disposed at the ends of each row of coils and to which said coils are connected to produce said vertical passageway, a drain pan attached to said supporting means and constructed for substantially obstructing one end of said passageway, and circulating means supported by said coil supporting means and positioned within said passageway opposite to said-drain pan. v'

LAWRENCE A. PHILIPP. 

